History

Our work has changed a lot over the years; our values and commitment haven't.

Sir Francis and Lady Tudsbery set up Thistle Foundation and built the Thistle Estate in Craigmillar in 1944 to provide homes for disabled ex-servicemen that would, in the words of Sir Francis, enable them “to live in homes of their own, surrounded by their own families, by their own friends, and by their own belongings."

This was a truly pioneering move - for the first time, wounded war veterans could live at home with their families whilst receiving the skilled medical attention that was essential to their recovery and wellbeing.

The world has changed immeasurably since then, but we still share the Tudsberys' conviction that disabled people can and should live as part of their local community.

Our beginnings have given us the courage to work in radical ways and to embrace change when it is needed.

We now support disabled people to as independently as possible and support people living with long term conditions to better manage life.At the same time we have driven progress towards a person-centred approach to health and social care.

Here is a Timeline about the history of Thistle. Find out more about our history and look through photographs and items from our archive here.

Find out more about the Robin Chapel, built and named in memory of Robin, the Tudsberys' only son here.